Long-neglected Mac Pro, Cinema Display finally updated

Apple today announced sorely-needed updates to its Mac Pro workstation and LED …

After letting its top-end professional line of computers and displays languish without significant upgrades for nearly two years, Apple today announced revised Mac Pro workstations and an accompanying 27" LED Cinema Display. The new Mac Pros can be fitted with up to 12 Xeon processing cores in a dual-CPU configuration, up to 4 512GB SSD drives, and almost-top-end ATI Radeon GPUs. All that graphics power can be pushed to the new 27" LED Cinema Display with its 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution.

The new Mac Pros still retain the same case as the previous models—though the design dates back to the Power Mac G5, Apple seems loath to update the look—but are available with Intel Xeons inside, including the latest 32nm 6-core Westmere-EP variants.

The low-end model comes with a single 2.8GHz quad-core Xeon W3530 processor with 8MB of L2 cache. Build-to-order options include a 3.2GHz quad-core Xeon W3565 with 8MB L2 (these 3500-series are 45nm Bloomfield variants), with a top-end option of a 3.33GHz 6-core Xeon W3680 with 12MB of L2—this one being a 32nm Westmere. Stock RAM is 3GB of 1066MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM, and single-CPU models max out at 16GB.

The high-end model comes with dual 2.4GHz quad-core Xeon E5620 processors with 12MB L2 cache to start, but can be built to order with dual 2.66GHz 6-core Xeon X5650 or dual 2.93GHz 6-core Xeon X5670 CPUs, all with 12MB L2 cache; all these processor options are 32nm Westmeres. Stock RAM is 6GB of 1066MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM, and can be outfitted up to a full 32GB.

Build-to-order options include two ATI Radeon HD 5770 cards with 1GB of GDDR5 memory; one ATI Radeon HD 5870 card with 1GB of GDDR5 memory; up to four 512GB solid state drives or up to four 1TB or 2TB SATA hard drives; a Mac Pro RAID card; dual-channel or quad-channel 4Gb Fibre Channel card; and up to two 18x SuperDrives. For input, each Mac Pro is supplied with an Apple Keyboard with numerical keypad and a wireless Magic Mouse, but options include the new Magic Trackpad—capable of multitouch gestures, a wired Apple Mouse, and the wireless Apple Keyboard.

The long-anticipated 27" LED Cinema Display is exactly what was expected. Just like its smaller 24" sibling, it comes complete with built-in iSight, microphone, stereo speakers, 3 USB 2.0 ports, and MagSafe power port for powering MacBooks and MacBook Pros. It also connects using Mini DisplayPort. However, the new model uses the same 27" LED-backlit IPS LCD panel as the 27" iMac, offering 2560 x 1440 resolution.

UPDATE: We just heard back from Apple, and have some additional details to share about the LED Cinema Display update. The current 24" LED Cinema Display has been discounted $100 down to $799, and will be available while supplies last. The aging 30" Cinema Display is also available at its current price while supplies last. Reading between the lines, the 27" LED Cinema Display will be Apple's only external display option going forward from September.

Since it will be the only display (and a pricy one at that), Apple has tweaked a few details for the 27" LED Cinema Display. The cable is 6" longer than the cable on the 24" model, which should make it easier to connect to a Mac Pro stowed underneath a desk. Apple also beefed up the built-in audio output from 12W to a total output of 49W, making it a much better option for listing to music or even watching HD movies.

In announcing its new kit, Apple extolled the environmental benefits of the easily recyclable aluminum enclosures as well as the arsenic-free glass and mercury-free LED backlighting in the LED Cinema Display. Both the Mac Pro and 27" LED Cinema Display are BFR and PVC free, and both products meet Energy Star 5.0 requirements and are EPEAT Gold-rated.

Apple expects the new Mac Pros to be available in August, and they are not currently available to order. However, a single-CPU, quad-core Mac Pro will start at $2,499, while 8-core machines start at $3,499. If you want dodecacore Mac Pro, though, you'll have to loosen the purse strings and dig deep; 12-core models start at $4,999. Those wanting to pair their new Mac Pro with a new 27" LED Cinema Display will have to wait another month, however. Apple says the new displays will be available in September for $999.

Hey, we could have put the Cinema Display and the Magic Trackpad in separate articles.

But doing it this way is neither unprecedented nor uncommon—Jacqui could write about the iMac while I wrote about the Mac Pro. Also, the audience for the Mac Pro and iMac has some overlap, but not that much; most people either want one or the other.

Hey, we could have put the Cinema Display and the Magic Trackpad in separate articles.

But doing it this way is neither unprecedented nor uncommon—Jacqui could write about the iMac while I wrote about the Mac Pro. Also, the audience for the Mac Pro and iMac has some overlap, but not that much; most people either want one or the other.

"4 512GB SSD"oh dear GOD. I didn't even know they had gotten up to that size with SSDs, knowing how expensive they are - and four of them?Can anyone provide a cost of the mac with all four of these and everything else maximized?

When you're dropping all that cash on such a high-end machine, you'd kind of expect that the graphics hardware would also be high-end and you wouldn't need to request it. The only reason they're putting a 5770 in there is because people would generally want something much beefier and they want to sock you for the ludicrous extra markup they put on 'Apple approved' optional parts.

Apple hasn't changed the external architecture of its Pro boxes since the G4 days, and it is a good thing: you see one you know what it is without having to look for the logo. Switching from plastic fascia to aluminium plating is simpler and greener. Internally the architecture changed between the G5 and Intel models, but the carcass is pretty much the same. I still have my box grater in the kitchen, and a Mac cheese grater will also still be there sitting under the desk of some professional who is focused on the task displayed in whatever size display that metal box is driving. Let's hear it for classic design.

When you're dropping all that cash on such a high-end machine, you'd kind of expect that the graphics hardware would also be high-end and you wouldn't need to request it. The only reason they're putting a 5770 in there is because people would generally want something much beefier and they want to sock you for the ludicrous extra markup they put on 'Apple approved' optional parts.

This makes no sense. You go to store.Apple.com and you click the 5870 if you want a better vid. card. It's not that hard and they're not going to put any extra markup. Just the option of having a downgraded vid card if you want.

Every manufacturer or everything will give you the base, lowest end unit available with options to swap in higher end stuff. Nobody puts the most expensive thing on the table in front of you and tells you to remove what you don't like.

When you're dropping all that cash on such a high-end machine, you'd kind of expect that the graphics hardware would also be high-end and you wouldn't need to request it. The only reason they're putting a 5770 in there is because people would generally want something much beefier and they want to sock you for the ludicrous extra markup they put on 'Apple approved' optional parts.

This makes no sense. You go to store.Apple.com and you click the 5870 if you want a better vid. card. It's not that hard and they're not going to put any extra markup. Just the option of having a downgraded vid card if you want.

Every manufacturer or everything will give you the base, lowest end unit available with options to swap in higher end stuff. Nobody puts the most expensive thing on the table in front of you and tells you to remove what you don't like.

So youre saying there wont be any extra if i decide to choose the 5870? then why even mention the 5770? who would choose that over a 5870? makes no sense.

So $1k for a 27" IPS panel at 2569x1440. That should mean you can buy the same panel from Samsung, LG, etc once it becomes publicly available for $500 or so. Hopefully LED back-lit as well. Not too bad.

Not that I have any need for a MP I'm shocked they don't include USB 3 or FW 3000. I thought these things really were just around the corner and would be appearing this year.... The reason I care is I was planning on a new MBP when they get bumped late this year but hoped that'd include a faster external port.

If Apple didn't put it in the MP (the only people I know personally with MPs are both film editors with racks of external FW drives) I can't imagine the MBP is going to get USB 3/FW30000 this fall/winter.

I guess I should be happy I can put of replacing my late 2008 MBP another year... Yes the ONLY thing justifijg on upgrade ATM would be a faster external bus.

The screen is actually a pretty good price, while you could spend a few hundred more and get an entire computer with it (edit: I didn't realise it was $700 for a Core i3 system, so probably not a valid point) , a screen with the same panel is $100 more at Dell.

That said, Dell regularly has sales. Apple doesn't.

As mentioned though, pretty weak update. Doesn't look like they did much but change some of the customisable options, rather than actually give it the overhaul it needs.

You know- there are a fair number of people who don't need high-end graphics in their workstation (I'll start with audio guys and move on to programmers). As long as they get a reasonable display speed and multiple monitors they are pretty happy.

Once costs are posted I'd be surprised if Apple charged more than $200 to upgrade from a 5770 to a 5870 which would be in line with retail cost differentials (i.e. Newegg). So the base user gets a hefty step up for the same money (better value), plus the high end option won't be extravagant. SOunds like a solid upgrade. Now we just need pricing.